F1 drivers will QUIT German Grand Prix if there is a repeat of Silverstone tyre farce

Formula One was plunged deeper into crisis after drivers warned they will strike at the German Grand Prix if there is a repeat of the blow-outs which blighted the British Grand Prix.

The stark message came after a meeting of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) at the Nurburgring last night which was also attended by FIA race director Charlie Whiting and Pirelli racing manager Mario Isola.

During the meeting the drivers made clear to Pirelli that they are not prepared to risk their lives when they believe that the tyre supplier can produce rubber which does not disintegrate.

No repeat: Lewis Hamilton was the first to suffer a rear-left puncture at the British Grand Prix last weekend

Let's get it right: A Mercedes Formula One team technician checks the air pressure at the Nurnburgring

Following five blowouts during the
race, the first of which was suffered by Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes,
and another explosion on Sergio Perez’s McLaren during Friday practice
at Silverstone, Pirelli have redesigned their rear tyres using
bullet-proof Kevlar.

But a drivers’ union statement read: 'The drivers of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association wish to express their deepest concerns about the events that took place at Silverstone.

'We trust the changes made to the tyres will have the desired results and that similar problems will not occur during the German GP weekend.

'We are ready to drive our cars to the limit, as we always do, and as it is expected by our teams, sponsors and fans.

'However, the drivers have decided if similar problems should manifest themselves during the German GP, we shall immediately withdraw from the event, as this avoidable problem with the tyres endangers again the lives of drivers, marshals and fans.'

Farce: Jean Eric Vergne's tyre was the third to explode, with the burning rubber hitting Kimi Raikkonen (behind)

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, who was nearly killed when hit by flying debris during the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix and who also suffered a blow-out at Silverstone, admitted immediately after the British Grand Prix that a potential strike would be discussed by the drivers upon their arrival in Germany.

The last occasion drivers withdrew from a race was ahead of the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

In that instance concerns had materialised in Friday practice when a number of incidents involving the Michelin-shod cars took place.

Worst hit was Toyota's Ralf Schumacher who suffered a frightening smash into the wall of the banking surrounding the famed oval part of the circuit.

Frantic negotiations took place prior to the race in a bid to find a resolution, but with none found, the 16 cars using Michelin tyres pulled into the pitlane at the end of the parade lap.

It led to a farce of a race as the six remaining cars on Bridgestone rubber lined up, prompting angry scenes in the grandstands.

Ruined: Felipe Massa finished sixth in the British GP on Sunday, even though his tyre was ripped to shreds

Changes: The belt on the problematic rear tyres is now made of Kevlar as opposed to steel

Mark Webber, a former director of the GPDA, revealed if the scenes then had manifested themselves earlier in the British GP weekend, then the drivers would again have pulled out.

'It was probably fortunate in Indy we found the problem in practice,' said Webber.

'The tyres were failing at a very high-speed nature in a dangerous corner, so the race couldn't go ahead (for those using Michelin tyres).

'The problems we had on Sunday, if we'd had them on Friday, then the result probably would have been the same (a withdrawal).

'You can't just magically turn up with a new type of tyre overnight and supply a hundred set of tyres through the pitlane.

'So we were probably fortunate in a way we got away (with things) at Silverstone on Friday. That was the big difference.'

Warning: Mark Webber said if the problems had happened earlier the British GP would have been cancelled

Red Bull team-mate Vettel said: 'It's good that within a week we have been able to get a different tyre for this race which hopefully is safer for all of us.

'Obviously the last race was not what we wanted, not satisfactory, so it's good we have a new tyre here.

'How much better and how different it will be is difficult to judge at this stage, but I'm confident it's a step forward.'

Happy: Sebastian Vettel had praised the new Pirelli tyre for this weekend ahead of the German Grand Prix

Speaking prior to the announcement, Jenson Button, who recently became a director of the GPDA, hit back at Pirelli’s claim on Tuesday that Formula One teams were to blame.

Pirelli claimed the teams had caused the explosions by pushing their rubber beyond its design limits and mounting the rear tyres the wrong way round in an effort to gain performance advantage.

However, Button is adamant that despite team-mate Perez suffering two deflations, the second during the race, McLaren did not endanger their drivers.

Been here before: Drivers last withdrew at the USA Grand Prix in Indianapolis in 2005

Asked whether he agreed with Pirelli’s assertion that their 2013 tyres were ‘completely safe’ if used in the ‘correct way’, Button replied: ‘All I know is what I saw at the weekend. I think there were six tyre issues in the race, which is a lot.

‘Yes we used the tyres the other way round but we were told we could by Pirelli.’

Pirelli accepted Button’s claim but are calling for the practice to stop this weekend. Button questioned why Pirelli are wheeling out a new range of rubber, front and rear, for the following race in Hungary in a fortnight’s time.

‘I don’t know why it is necessary if these tyres are fine,’ he said.

Following the crisis talks the drivers watched a screening of the forthcoming movie Rush which chronicles the duel for the 1976 drivers’ title between James Hunt, the eventual champion, and Niki Lauda.

The film features a recreation of a crash which nearly cost Lauda his life and left him with horrific burns. Lauda’s smash happened on the old 14-mile Nurburgring circuit which was has never been used for a grand prix since.